Grant, Roaches indicted in election mishap

The end of a long investigation came to an end on Friday when a former Gonzales councilman and council candidate were indicted on charges that stemmed from voter fraud in a 2009 election.

Former District 1 Councilman Tilman Russell Grant and Reverend Charles Roaches were indicted by the 25th Judicial District on 14 counts of providing false information on an application for early voting.

The investigation stemmed from allegations by citizens of District 1 that both Grant and Roaches gave misleading information regarding mail-in ballots provided for citizens. Mail-in ballots are for those that are 65 years or older, disabled, out of the county on election day or confined to jail but otherwise eligible to vote.

Grant was indicted on 10 counts and Roaches was handed four counts.

Grant held the District 2 seat on the Gonzales City Council and resigned his position in February of 2010. Then he admitted to “voter misconduct” and agreed to cooperate with authorities in the investigation. He won the seat in 2008 and was ultimately replaced by current councilman Tommy Schurig, who finished second in voting during that election.

Current councilman Gary Schroeder and Roaches were vying for the District 1 seat with Roaches as a write-in candidate for the May 2009 election. Schroeder won the election and was sworn in office in June of 2009 along with Grant.

According to published reports in 2009, both candidates submitted 102 total mail-in ballots, 100 of those being from Roaches. 83% of Roaches ballots were marked as coming from disabled persons.

The DA did not look into the election of 2008 for any wrong doings and DA Heather Miller (then Hollub) sent a letter to area residents stating her office would not pursue investigating that said election.

The Gonzales Inquirer was unable to talk to DA Miller before press time for sentencing trial information.